Mail-delivery apparatus.



PATENTBD NOV. 7, 1905.

B. W. HARRIS. MAIL DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 9, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1.. WWI/N PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905.

Nol 803,900.

B. W. HARRIS. MAIL DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED M AB 9, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

r I Rttomegs Inventor Banzai? Wfiarms Witnesses NITED STATES- BARNETT W. HARRIS, OF WAVELAND, INDIANA.

MAIL-DELILVERY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented NOV. 7, 1905.

Application filed March 9 1905. Serial No. 249,307.

To IY/ZZ whom it may concernr Be it known that I. BARNETT IN. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVaveland, in the county of Montgomery and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Mail-Delivery Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rapid-transit apparatus for delivering mail-matter and the like, and is designed to provide an improved apparatus of this character particularly adapted for rural free-delivery routes.

It is furthermore designed to embody the invention in the nature of an overhead system, including an elevatedtrack or way and cars or carriages to travel thereon and be automatically stopped'and started'at the various stations along the route. In this connection it is proposed to make up a train of cars or carriages at one end of the route and to provide for successively uncoupling and dropping off the cars or carriages when they reach their proper destinations and to effect automatic reversing of the motor-car at one end of the route in order that it may return to the initial end of the route without any manual manipulation.

With these and other objects in View the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being under stood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1' is a view of the apparatus of the present invention, showing atrain of cars or carriages passing a station and in the act of releasing the rearmost car. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the rearmost car released and held at the station. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating, on a somewhat larger scale, the means for coupling and disconnecting the cars. Fig. 4 is a view illustrating in full and dotted line positions the coupling and uncoupling positions. Fig. 5 illustrates a slightly-modified construction, in which an electromagnetic mechanism is employed for uncoupling the cars. Fig. 6 is a diagram of the connections of different stations for energizing the electromagnets of the uncoupling devices.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in each and every figure of the drawings.

As hereinbefore indicated, the present invention is designed as an overhead system; and it consists of a track or way made up of a pair of rails, (designated 1,) which may be metal bars or wires, as may be desired, and are supportedin an elevated position by means of a series of posts 2. An arch 3 rises from the top of each post and is provided upon the inner faces of its opposite sides, substantially midway between the top and bottom thereof, with insulated brackets 4, upon which the respective rails are supported. track is designed for the support of a train of cars or carriages. two of such cars or carriages being illustrated in the drawings and each consisting of a body 5 in the nature of a box of suitable shape and proportions and having a door 6 to give access to the interior of the carriage and locked in any suitable manner. This carriage is designed to travel between the rails of the track and is provided at each side with a pair of grooved or flanged wheels 7 to run upon the track, adjacent cars being connected by a suitable coupling device. For propelling the train of carriages there is a motor car or carriage 9, having a pair of supporting-wheels 10 at each side to run upon the respective rails and constituting trolleys in electric connection with the rails 1, which also constitute electric conductors, whereby the electric motor (not shown) w ithin the motor-car 9 is driven. The drive-shaft ll of the motor has each end projected externally of the motor-car and provided with a relatively large driving'or traction wheel 12, which runs upon the adjacent rail of the track, whereby the motor-car is driven and the train is propelled along the overhead track or way.

It will be understood that a train of cars, including a motor-car, is made up at one end of the route and the mail or other matter for the respective stations is placed in the proper cars or carriages, and the latter are arranged with the 'rearmost car or carriage designed to be dropped off at the first station and the remaining cars or carriages arranged in a similar order, so as to successively drop off the rearmost car at the successive stations without stopping the train.

For connecting adjacent cars, one of the cars is provided with a coupling member 13 in the nature of a tube or socket, while the other car is provided with an arrow-headed This elevated coupling-pin 14, designed to enter the socket 13 and be held therein by a vertically-disposed locking-pin 15, which works in a housing 16 upon the top of the coupler member 13, the lower end of the pin being beveled and projected into the interior of the part 13 in position to automatically engage the arrow-headed member 14, so as to couple the members 13 and 14, and thereby connect the cars.

It is proposed to efiect automatic release of each coupling device, and this is carried out by means of a vertically-swinging lever 17, disposed longitudinally above the top of the car and fulcrumed at its forward end upon a bracket 18, carried by the front of the top of the car. The rear end of this lever terminates in an upturned hook 19 and has its forward end provided with a downwardly and forwardly inclined extension or arm 20, carrying a pivotal finger 21 upon the lower end of the arm, the joint or pivotal connection of said finger capable of being broken upwardly, but not downwardly, whereby the finger may wipe downwardly across the head 22 of the locking-pin 15 in order that the finger may be engaged beneath said head, as in Fig. 3. There is a spring 23 which extends between the back of the arm 20 and the adjacent end of the car with a tendency to draw the arm 20 toward the car, and thereby elevate the rear end of the lever 17. A flexible connection, such as a chain 24, hangs from the rear end of each lever 17 and carries a link 25 at its lower end, said link receiving the coupling member 14 when adjacent ears are coupled, thereby to hold the lever 17 in its depressed position, with the finger 21 of the arm 20 elevated above the adjacent coupler, as in the first car. (Shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.)

-In making up a train at either terminus of the track with the exception of the lever 17 of the rearmost car the other levers are held depressed by having the rings 25 engaged with the respective coupler members 14, the locking-pins 15 of course being engaged with the respective arrow-headed coupling members 14, so as to successively couple the cars. The rearmost lever 17 is held in an elevated position by means of its spring 23, the finger 21 being engaged beneath the head 22 of the adjacent locking-pin 15, while the chain 24 and the link 25 hang loosely from the lever above and out of engagement with the coupling.

Each of the arches 3 is provided with a catching device consisting of a link 26, de pending from the top of the arch with which it has a hinge connection 27, capable of breaking in one direction only, the lower free extremity of the link terminating in an upwardly-directed hook 28, located upon what will be termed the rear side of the link and disposed at a suitable distance above the tops of the cars and in the path of the elevated lever 17. WVhen the train of cars passes through the first arch, all but the lever 17 of the last car passes through the arch without engaging the link or hanger 26, while the rearmost lever 17 frictionally engages the lower end of the hanger 26 and is depressed thereby against the tension of the spring 23 until the rear terminal hook 19 of the lever engages the hook 28 and arrests further movement of the car. During the depression of the lever 17 the arm 20 is of course elevated therewith, and the finger 21, operating against the under side of the head of the pin 15, tends to lift the pin out of engagement with the arrow-headed coupling member 14, and when the forward movement of the car is stopped the coupling member 14 will pull out of the coupling member 13, thereby automatically uncoupling the cars and permitting the last car to be dropped off without any manual attention whatever.

Just as soon as the member 14 pulls out of the member 13 the link or ring 25 will of course pull off of the member 14, whereby the lever to which the link 25 is connected will be automatically elevated under the influence of the spring 23 into position for engagement by the catching device of the next succeeding arch. It will now be understood that the last car is automatically detached from the train when it reaches a station, wherefore the cars will be successively dropped off at their respective stations.

After each car or carriage is detached from the train and stopped at the proper station the postmaster or other attendant removes the mail from the carriage and then puts in the mail destined for the initial terminal station, in order that the car or carriage may be in readiness for the return of the motor-car, which is accomplished in the following manner: The motor-car is provided with a suitable reversing mechanism consisting of a contact crank-arm 29, mounted upon the exterior of the car and traveling over an arcuateseries of contacts 30, and to effect automatic reversing of the contact-arm 29 one of the arches 3, which is located at a suitable distance beyond the final terminal station, is provided with a trip projection 31, located below the rack and in the path of the crank-arm 29, whereby the latter will be moved rearwardly and the motor thereby reversed, so as to automatically start the motor-car on its return passage. As the motor proceeds upon its return trip it strikes the adjacent car or carriage and pushes the same before it, said car or carriage successively striking the next carriage, and so on until the entire train is being pushed by the motor-car to the initial station of the route. By this arrangement it will be seen that the motor requires no manual attention after being initially started, as the reversing of the motor-caris automatically effected and the only manual attention required is for removing the mail and placing the same in the several cars or carriages.

It is proposed to have each train make a complete trip from one end of the route to the other and back again, and after one train has made such a trip from one end of the route another train may be started from the opposite end of the route; but it is of course apparent that two trains cannot pass one another upon the sametrack. To enable the running of trains in opposite directions upon a single track, it is of course necessary to employ a pair of combined tripand-catch devices 26 for each arch, one adjacent each side thereof and arranged to swing in opposite directions, the levers 17 upon the cars being located at one side thereof, so as to engage the proper tripping devices when reaching their destinations. Upon the return trip the trip devices 26 at one side of the track will of course be in the paths of the levers 17; but in view of the pivotal or hinged mounting of these devices the latter will yield and permit the levers to brush past them without interfering with the progress of the train.

In lieu of the mechanical coupling devices previously described an electromagnet 40 may be employed for the purpose. In this case the pin 15 is connected to an armature 41, that is mounted above the coupling member 13 and is disposed within the field of force of an electromagnet 4:0. From the electromagnet extend wires 42 and 43, carrying brushes 4% and 45, respectively, and at each of the stations are arranged contacts 46, that are connected to the main lines by wires 47. As an illustration of this, each time the train arrives opposite a station the contacts of one of the cars will engage corresponding contacts 46 at the station, and the electromagnet will be energized, withdrawing the coupling-pin 15 and dropping one of the cars at the station. In Fig. 6 the arrangement of the contacts is shown, the contacts at station No. 1 being placed'close to the main lines, the contacts at station No. 2 at some distance therefrom, and the contacts at station 3 being placed at a still greater distance fromthe main line, and the contacts carried by the respective cars are correspondingly arranged, so that the electromagnets will be energized in proper order.

Having fully described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a transportation system, the combination of a track having stations, a train of cars, and means for automatically and successively detaching the cars and arresting the "same at the successive stations.

2. In a transportation system, the combination with a track having stations, of a train made up of a motor-car and trailers successively coupled thereto, and means to automatically uncouple and arrest successive cars at their respective stations.

3. In a transportation system, the combination of a track having stations, catching devices for the respective stations, a train of cars successively coupled together, and means carried by each car for engagement with the catching device of one of the stations to uncouple said car and stop the same at said station.

4. In a transportation system, the combination of a track having stations, a train of successively coupled cars traveling thereon,

.catching devices for the respective stations,

an uncoupling device carried by each car, and a normally elevated lever fulcrurned upon the car and connected to the uncoupling device and having a portion arranged to be depressed by the catching device and thereby actuating the uncoupling device.

' 5. In a transportation system, the combination of a track having stations, a train of successively coupled cars traveling upon the track, uncoupling means for each car including a yieldable trip having a hook, and a catching device for each station located in the path of one of the trips for contact therewith to actuate the uncoupling means and to engage the hook ot' the trip to arrest the car.

6. In a transportation system, the combination of a track having stations, catching devices for the stations, a train of successivelycoupled cars traveling upon the track, uncoupling means carried by each car, a yieldable trip carried by each car in cooperative relation with the uncoupling means and disposed t'or engagement with one of the catches, means to normally hold each trip in an inoperative position, and means controlled by each trip for releasing the next adjacent trip when moved by one of the catching devices.

7 In a transportation system, the combination of a track having stations, catching devices for the stations, a train of cars traveling upon the track, couplers for the cars, yieldable trip devices carried. by the respective cars for engagement with respective catching devices, means extending between each trip device and the adjacent coupler to hold the trip device in an inactive position, and means actuated by the movement of each trip device when engaged with one of the catches to simultaneously release the coupler and free the adjacent trip.

8. In a transportation system, the combination of a track having stations, catching devices provided for the respective stations, a train of cars traveling upon the track, couplers for the successive cars, uncoupling devices for the couplers, a spring-pressed upwardlyinclined trip-lever fulcrumed upon each car for contact with one of the catching devices, means extending between the trip and the adjacent coupler to hold the trip in an inactive position, and a pivotal arm actuated by the lever for simultaneously actuating the adjacent uncoupling device and releasing the next adjacent trip-lever.

9. In a transportation system, the combination of a track having stations, a train of cars traveling upon the track, catching devices located at the respective stations and yieldable in the return direction only of the train, and means carried by each car for engagement with one of the catching devices to uncouple and arrest said car, the catching devices being yieldable to permit the return of the train.

10. In a transportation system, thecombination of a track having stations, a train of suc cessively-coupled cars including a motor having a reversing device, means to successively uncouple and arrest the cars at their respective stations beginning with the rearmost car. and a trip located at one end of the track in the path of the reversing device to automatically actuate the latter and reverse the motor, the cars being free at the successive stations to be returned to the initial end of the track by the return of the motor.

11. In a transportation system, the combination of a track having stations, catching devices for the stations, a train of successivelycoupled cars traveling upon the track, each coupler consisting of a socketed member upon one car, an arrow-headed member carried by the other car for engagement with the socket, and a locking-pin carried by the socket for engagement with the arrow-headed member, a lever fulcrumed upon the top of the car, means to yieldably elevate the same into position for engagement with one of the catching devices, a pendent arm carried by the lever, and a finger carried'by the arm and engaging the locking-pin to move the latter out of engagement with the arrow-headed member when the lever is depressed by contact with the catching device.

12. In atransportation system, the combination with a pair of cars, one of the cars being provided with a socketed coupler member, a locking-pin carried by the said coupler member, an arrow-headed coupler member carried by the other car to enter the socketed member and be engaged by the locking-pin, a lever fulcrumed upon the top of each car and provided at its forward end with a pendent arm disposed in front of the car, a linger carried by the lower end of the arm for engagement with the adjacent locking-pin, a flexible connection depending from the rear end of the lever, and a link carried by the flexible connection to receive the arrow-headed member when engaged With the socketed member and capable of being automatically'drawn therefrom when the cars are uncoupled by the depression of the lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto atfixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BARNETT W. HARRIS.

Witnesses: I

J. O. BRIDGMAN, A. Bownn. 

